Download or read book A Transition to Sustainable Housing written by Trivess Moore and published by Springer Nature. This book was released on 2023-06-30 with total page 303 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This open access book explores the environmental, social, and financial challenges of housing provision, and the urgent need for a sustainable housing transition. The authors explore how market failures have impacted the scaling up of sustainable housing and the various policy attempts to address this. Going beyond an environmental focus, the book explores a range of housing-related challenges including social justice and equity issues. Sustainability transitions theory is presented as a framework to help facilitate a sustainable housing transition and a range of contemporary case studies are explored on issues including high performing housing, small housing, shared housing, neighbourhood-scale housing, circular housing, and innovative financing for housing. It is an important new resource that challenges policy makers, planners, housing construction industry stakeholders, and researchers to rethink what housing is, how we design and construct it, and how we can better integrate impacts on households to wider policy development.

Download or read book Too Much Information written by Cass R. Sunstein and published by MIT Press. This book was released on 2022-02-15 with total page 261 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The New York Times–bestselling co-author of Nudge explores how more information can make us happy or miserable—and why we sometimes avoid it but sometimes seek it out. How much information is too much? Do we need to know how many calories are in the giant vat of popcorn that we bought on our way into the movie theater? Do we want to know if we are genetically predisposed to a certain disease? Can we do anything useful with next week's weather forecast for Paris if we are not in Paris? In Too Much Information, Cass Sunstein examines the effects of information on our lives. Policymakers emphasize “the right to know,” but Sunstein takes a different perspective, arguing that the focus should be on human well-being and what information contributes to it. Government should require companies, employers, hospitals, and others to disclose information not because of a general “right to know” but when the information in question would significantly improve people's lives. Of course, says Sunstein, we are better off with stop signs, warnings on prescription drugs, and reminders about payment due dates. But sometimes less is more. What we need is more clarity about what information is actually doing or achieving.

Download or read book Transforming Energy Systems written by Fries, Steven and published by Edward Elgar Publishing. This book was released on 2021-11-16 with total page 320 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Recognizing the urgent need to transform energy systems to low-carbon alternatives, this timely book offers evidenced and credible ways to accelerate actions towards meeting the Paris Agreement goals and achieving net zero emissions. Steven Fries analyses through the lens of government, business and household actionsÑtheir policies and investmentsÑthe systemic changes needed to eliminate net carbon dioxide emissions from energy.

Download or read book Behavioral Science Policy Volume 7 Issue 2 written by Craig R. Fox and published by Brookings Institution Press. This book was released on 2022-03-29 with total page 137 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The success of nearly all public- and private-sector policies hinges on the behavior of individuals, groups, and organizations. Today, such behaviors are better understood than ever, thanks to a growing body of practical behavioral science research. However, policymakers often are unaware of behavioral science findings that may help them craft and execute more effective and efficient policies. The pages of this journal will become a meeting ground: a place where scientists and non-scientists can encounter clearly described behavioral research that can be put into action. By design, the scope of Behavioral Science & Policy is broad, with topics spanning health care, financial decisionmaking, energy and the environment, education and culture, justice and ethics, and work place practices. Contributions will be made by researchers with expertise in psychology, sociology, law, behavioral economics, organization science, decision science, and marketing. The journal is a key offering of the Behavioral Science & Policy Association in partnership with the Brookings Institution. The mission of BSPA is to foster dialog between social scientists, policymakers, and other practitioners in order to promote the application of rigorous empirical behavioral science in ways that serve the public interest. BSPA does not advance a particular agenda or political perspective.

Download or read book The Big Fix written by Hal Harvey and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2023-06-06 with total page 320 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A “smart, honest, and down-to-earth” (Elizabeth Kolbert) citizen’s guide to the seven urgent changes that will really make a difference for our climate. If you think the only thing you can do to combat climate change is to install a smart thermostat or cook plant-based meat, you’re thinking too small. In The Big Fix, energy policy advisor Hal Harvey and longtime New York Times reporter Justin Gillis offer a new, hopeful way to engage with one of the greatest problems of our age. Writing in a lively, accessible style, the pair illuminate how the really big decisions that affect our climate get made—whether by the most obscure public utilities commissions or in the lofty halls of state capitols—and reveal how each of us can influence these decisions to deliver change. The pair focus on the seven areas of our political economy where ambitious but practical changes will have the greatest effect: from what kind of power plants to build to how much insulation new houses require to how efficient cars must be before they’re allowed on the road. Equal parts pragmatic and inspiring—and “full of illustrative stories and compelling evidence” (Al Gore)—The Big Fix provides an action plan for anyone serious about holding our governments accountable and saving our threatened planet.

Download or read book Compendium of Research Reports written by and published by . This book was released on 1981 with total page 204 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Kernel Smoothing written by M.P. Wand and published by CRC Press. This book was released on 1994-12-01 with total page 227 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Kernel smoothing refers to a general methodology for recovery of underlying structure in data sets. The basic principle is that local averaging or smoothing is performed with respect to a kernel function. This book provides uninitiated readers with a feeling for the principles, applications, and analysis of kernel smoothers. This is facilita

Download or read book Risk in the Global Real Estate Market written by Mike C. I. Nwogugu and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2012-01-26 with total page 299 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Essential reading for professional investors, risk managers, regulators, central bankers, and real estate professionals, Risk in the Global Real Estate Market: International Risk Regulation, Mechanism Design, Foreclosures, Title Systems, and REITs takes an international look at the ways in which U.S.-style constitutional laws, financial laws, and real estate laws in various countries affect global economics and risk; and analyzes specific constraints that deter market development such as Asset Liability Matching, inappropriate financial products, land title systems, inefficient constitutions and human biases. The sub-prime mortgage crisis (that began around 2006) and the Global Financial Crisis of 2007–2010 disrupted the economies of various countries and exposed many of the psychological, social, and economic problems inherent in the legal/risk infrastructure for mortgages, land title systems, REITs, securitization, and pensions. In this remarkable new book, Michael Nwogugu explains how these processes and statutes are unconstitutional and inefficient, and how they influence demand for housing, real estate prices, retirement savings, household wealth, consumer disposable income, marriage opportunities, job markets, crime, and regional economic growth. The resulting major economic and public health problems have continued to reduce the quality-of-life of nations, and continue to cause permanent declines in wealth, increases in crime and delinquency, high divorce rates, depression, and inadequate job creation, among other problems. The book examines a range of fields—including mechanism design, psychology, risk finance, and corporate governance; and emphasizes Constitutional economics as a distinct dimension of risk analysis. Risk in the Global Real Estate Market makes a compelling case about how constitutional torts increase information asymmetry, transaction costs, agency problems, and compliance costs, as well as inefficiency in real estate transactions. These problems, the book argues, are not unique to the United States, but also affect Commonwealth countries and other nations that have developed regulations that are similar to, or are based on U.S. commercial, securities, and or constitutional laws. Risk in the Global Real Estate Market presents a novel analysis of the sub-prime crisis (that first began in 2006), the failure of securitization (CMBS/MBS) markets, the Global Financial Crisis, and socio-economic problems caused by traditional mortgages and securitization. The book reveals that many of the statutes and processes that define mortgages, foreclosures, securitization, and REITs in the United States (and many common-law countries and nations that have adopted American-style real estate regulations) are fundamentally unconstitutional and inefficient, and have lasting negative effects on consumer psychology, the demand for real estate, price discovery in property markets, economic growth, and quality of life. The book examines the nature of constitutional torts and property rights as the foundation for business transactions and economic growth within the context of risk regulation, interstate commerce, takings, and legislation. Risk in the Global Real Estate Market introduces new theories of consumer psychology and institutional dynamics in real estate transactions; presents new theories of takings, and also surveys psychology/psychiatry studies (based on data from various countries) that confirm the harmful effects of mortgages, securitization, and foreclosures. Using elements of mechanism design, Michael Nwogugu develops new efficient financial products (Mortgage-Alternatives products), and presents a policy framework for a unified “Mortgage-Alternatives” market for the CEE/CIS region and China. He also explains why Asset Liability Matching hinders lending, capital formation and risk management, especially in developing countries.

Download or read book Preservation of Affordable Rental Housing written by Heather L. Schwartz and published by Rand Corporation. This book was released on 2016-06-06 with total page 167 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Evaluates the MacArthur Foundation's Window of Opportunity, a 20-year philanthropic initiative begun in 2000 that has allocated $187 million to preserve privately owned affordable rental housing.

Download or read book Draft Action Plan for the Comprehensive Energy Efficiency Program for Existing Buildings written by and published by . This book was released on 2013 with total page 92 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Developing Property Sustainably written by Sara J. Wilkinson and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2015-06-05 with total page 313 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Developing Property Sustainably introduces readers to the key issues surrounding sustainable property development in the global marketplace. Pulling together received wisdom and original research, the authors provide a clear and practical overview of the sustainable property development process as well as a critical appraisal of the problems faced by global built environment stakeholders. Throughout, the authors demonstrate how the property development industry could and should respond better to debate on sustainable practices in the built environment by adopting more rigorous measurement techniques and sustainable approaches. Starting by exploring key definitions and stakeholders, the book goes on to explore finance, planning, construction, procurement, occupation, retrofit and lifecycle sustainability in order to provide the reader with a detailed understanding of all the issues involved in the delivery of sustainable property development from inception to occupation and beyond. Throughout the book, international case studies are used to demonstrate how sustainable property development is applied in practice around the world. With a logical chapter structure and accessible writing style, Developing Property Sustainably would be perfect for use on undergraduate and postgraduate modules and courses in real estate development, property and urban development and other built environment programmes.

Download or read book Public Procurement of Energy Efficiency Services written by Jas Singh and published by World Bank Publications. This book was released on 2009-12-17 with total page 260 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The current universal concerns about global energy security, competitiveness, and environmental protection make energy efficiency more important than ever. However, realizing large-scale savings has proven a significant challenge due to many barriers. 'Public Procurement of Energy Efficiency Services' looks at a largely untapped energy efficiency market the public sector. While the efficiency potential in this sector is substantial, the implementation of energy savings programs has been complicated by a number of factors, such as insufficient incentives to lower energy costs, rigid budgeting and procurement procedures, and limited access to financing. The book looks at energy savings performance contracts (ESPCs) as a means of overcoming some of these barriers. Because public facilities can outsource the full project cycle to a commercial service provider, ESPCs can enable public agencies to solicit technical solutions, mobilize commercial financing, and assign performance risk to third parties, allowing the agency to pay from a project s actual energy savings. The recommendations in this book stem from case studies that identified approaches, models, and specific solutions to ESPC procurement, including budgeting, energy audits, and bid evaluation. Such an approach also offers enormous potential to bundle, finance, and implement energy efficiency projects on a larger scale in the public sector, which can yield further economies of scale. ESPCs can also serve as an attractive element for fiscal stimulus packages and efforts by governments to 'green' their infrastructure, which can create local jobs, reduce future operating costs, and mitigate their carbon footprint. Lower energy bills, in turn, help to create fiscal space in future years to meet other critical investment priorities. Bundled public sector energy efficiency projects can help stimulate local markets for energy efficiency goods and services and 'lead by example', demonstrating good practices and providing models to the private sector.

Download or read book Financing Energy Efficiency written by Robert P. Taylor and published by World Bank Publications. This book was released on 2008-02-08 with total page 306 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: While energy efficiency projects could partly meet new energy demand more cheaply than new supplies, weak economic institutions in developing and transitional economies impede developing and financing energy efficiency retrofits. This book analyzes these difficulties, suggests a 3-part model for projectizing and financing energy efficiency retrofits, and presents thirteen case studies to illustrate the issues and principles involved.

Download or read book More Than You Wanted to Know written by Omri Ben-Shahar and published by Princeton University Press. This book was released on 2014-04-20 with total page 239 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: How mandated disclosure took over the regulatory landscape—and why it failed Perhaps no kind of regulation is more common or less useful than mandated disclosure—requiring one party to a transaction to give the other information. It is the iTunes terms you assent to, the doctor's consent form you sign, the pile of papers you get with your mortgage. Reading the terms, the form, and the papers is supposed to equip you to choose your purchase, your treatment, and your loan well. More Than You Wanted to Know surveys the evidence and finds that mandated disclosure rarely works. But how could it? Who reads these disclosures? Who understands them? Who uses them to make better choices? Omri Ben-Shahar and Carl Schneider put the regulatory problem in human terms. Most people find disclosures complex, obscure, and dull. Most people make choices by stripping information away, not layering it on. Most people find they can safely ignore most disclosures and that they lack the literacy to analyze them anyway. And so many disclosures are mandated that nobody could heed them all. Nor can all this be changed by simpler forms in plainer English, since complex things cannot be made simple by better writing. Furthermore, disclosure is a lawmakers' panacea, so they keep issuing new mandates and expanding old ones, often instead of taking on the hard work of writing regulations with bite. Timely and provocative, More Than You Wanted to Know takes on the form of regulation we encounter daily and asks why we must encounter it at all.

Download or read book Routledge Handbook of Sustainable Real Estate written by Sara Wilkinson and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2018-03-21 with total page 536 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: With the built environment contributing almost half of global greenhouse emissions, there is a pressing need for the property and real estate discipline to thoroughly investigate sustainability concerns. The Routledge Handbook of Sustainable Real Estate brings together the latest research of leading academics globally, demonstrating the nature and extent of the impact as well as suggesting means of mitigating humankind's impact and building resilience. Four sections examine the different aspects of sustainable real estate: governance and policy valuation, investment and finance management redevelopment and adaptation. Covering all land uses from residential to commercial, retail and industrial, the Routledge Handbook of Sustainable Real Estate is an exciting mixture of received wisdom and emerging ideas and approaches from both the developed and developing world. Academics, upper-level students and researchers will find this book an essential guide to the very best of sustainable real estate research.

Download or read book Sustainable Real Estate written by Thomas Walker and published by Springer. This book was released on 2018-10-11 with total page 462 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This edited collection broadens the definition of sustainable real estate based on industry trends, research, and the Paris Climate Agreements. Discussions encompass existing and new buildings throughout their life cycle, the financing of their development and operations, and their impact on the surrounding environments and communities. This broader perspective provides a better understanding of the interconnected nature of the environmental, societal, communal, political, and financial issues affecting sustainable real estate, revealing the wide-ranging impact of practitioners' decisions on the sustainable real estate system. Bringing together carefully selected articles from leading global academic and practitioner experts from urban planning, design, construction, and finance, this collection brings to light new opportunities and innovative transdisciplinary solutions to as-yet unresolved problems.

Download or read book Climate Disclosure written by United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. Subcommittee on Securities, Insurance, and Investment and published by . This book was released on 2010 with total page 208 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: